October Favourites

Hitting you with a October Favourites right before the end of the month because why not!

Happy 'officially Autumn' now the clocks have gone back, and FYI it is only 8 Friday's until Christmas! Oh yes, that's exciting.

Music

Can't Pretend - Tom Odell - I'm a little bit late to this party but loving this song a hella lot.

Can't Feel My Face - The Weekend - A good dancing around the kitchen song this one!

Heart's On Fire - Passenger - I normally avoid the slow, acoustic songs (they make me too melancholic) but in my quest to find wedding music I have been listening to a few lovely ones including this one.

Books

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel (my favourite!) and pretty addictive to read. Parts of it stop and make you think about what decisions you would make if needed and also the practicality of their future. I do wish that they had gone into the events that took them to that place and I wasn't a huge fan of the ending but having said that this is a solid novel that you should definitely give a read.

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson I read in about two days because I couldn't put it down. I've been reading quite a few thrillers which have been surprising me recently and it's quite pleasant. I do love to be surprised when reading. This is another book which makes you think about how far you would go, if at all. The story is multi-layered and very well written and I love the view points from the different characters who you should hate but can't quite bring yourself too. MUST READ.

 

Fashion

My student discount ran out last week which was very sad indeed and it wouldn't be a last hurrah unless I used it to buy something. Namely this coat from Dorothy Perkins which I freaking LOVE. It has this gorgeous brushed fabric texture which makes is super soft. So many people have said how lovely it looks and well you know you can never have enough coats right?

Blonde Waterfall Coat - Dorothy Perkins - £49.00 (although 10% off at the moment!)

I am also wrapping up warm in this incredible snood from H&M. For a start it is in a very dark grey and well I just love all things grey, but secondly it is huge and snuggly. The link is below but I would recommend going in store to buy as I have never had a good H&M online buying experience.

Knitted Scarf - H&M - £12.99

C x

August Favourites

Getting to the end of summer is normally a cause of sadness, but since I love Autumn and I cannot wait to get back in to jumpers I'm glad August is over! Having said all that it has been a particularly good summer and in some ways I will be sad to leave another one behind.

But enough of that - let's crack on with the faves.

Books

I have two time travel books that I have loved this month. Apparently I went searching for this genre for a while! First up is 'The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August' by Claire North. If you love history,suspense and humour then this is the book for you. Working on the idea that there are those among us who can repeat their lives over and over with butterfly effect consequences it is interesting to see the characters develop.

 The second is 'Life after Life' by Kate Atkinson. This novel has been cleverly written so even though you are going over the same life again and again there is always a slight change, making sure you don't get bored. It is also set over WWII which is my favourite period to read about anyway!

The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson- I have read a lot of books over my life. Recently it is very difficult to surprise me in novels, I can see what a plot is going, which is why I am including this book in my favourites. Because although I picked it up as a bit of fluff reading two things happened when I read it. 1) I thought I had guessed the plot twist and then it hit me and I was surprised! 2) I read this book in one day. I got home from work and I read it all the way to the end, ignoring the last episode of Glee in favour of this book. That says a lot.

 

The Martian by Andy Weir - Now I read this book last year but thought it might not appeal to all so decided not to include it in my favourites, however with the release of the film I thought I should mention that you should all read the book too! It was a lot funnier than I thought it would be, you almost need to think 'Castaway' on Mars. I am super looking forward to the film but if you do get a chance to read this book, do!

Music

I have been loving summer music with several new favourites that you might like to lend an ear to.

Hungry (Nikias Ibach Remix) - Dotan just makes me want to get up and dance and sway and it makes me wish I'd gone on holiday and played this driving along a coastline.

Listen here!

Peanut Butter Jelly - Galantis is what I like to call 'a good walk to work' song. It's a little bit silly and a lotta bit catchy.

Listen here! 

Unfinished Symphony - The Six is another one of those catchy, dancey songs that I love so much. This one has been around a while but I haven't done a favourites in ages so it has been saved up!

Listen here!

We Ride - Missy Higgins. I found this song through a good old shazam on a youtube video I was watching of someone's world trip. It just provoked all sorts of emotions in me and although I normally try to avoid the slower songs because they make me sad when I only want to be happy, I don't mind with this song.

Fashion

I am quite disappointed with the fashion world right now - if there is one style I really could do without it is 70's fashion. All those browns and suede and yeah I'm not really a fan. I do however need a dress for graduation next month so I've bought the following to try (both Dorothy Perkins):

 Blush Pencil Dress - Was £38 Now £26

Lavender 50's Lace Dress - Was £75 Now £30

Home

I'm including this little beauty in here rather than in 'Books' as the books I write about tend to lean more to the fiction side. This however has taken pride of place in my house where all can see and I LOVE IT. I first found Anna Maes Mac and Cheese a couple of years ago at Glastonbury and I have been an addict ever since. Now I can actually make it their way on my own. With over 50 recipes this is one recipe book that makes me hella happy!

Beauty

I already have another one of these Bourjois lippies and I love it so much I've gone back for more. I love that it goes on like a lipgloss before settling into a matte lipstick. I find it to be quite pigmented, giving a strong colour and it wears for several hours before you need to reapply. I've gone for no 12 - Velvet this time around and I love it.

I am not a big make-up wearer. As I'm sure I've said before when I can remember my 'face' normally consists of eyeliner, mascara and some lippie. If I'm feeling really adventurous maybe some eye shadow. But I went and picked up some new bits from Boots the other day and that included a new mascara which has to be one of the best I've owned. It makes my eyelashes look so long and as it's from the 'Seventeen' brand you don't have to break the bank to buy it. Mine is in the colour Brown Black which has a slightly subtler look than just Black.

 

I hope you have all had a wonderful summer!

C x

May Favourites

It has been a very long time since I did a favourites post. There just hasn't been enough for it to be substantial but now I have been saving a few things up so we have a bumper month!

Books

I started to read Wild by Cheryl Strayed long after the film had been out (I have in fact just bought it to watch after loving this book!) so it wasn't a choice based on a need to read it before seeing the film. It kept cropping up on my Amazon list so I thought I would give it a go and I am so glad I did. This has to be one of my favourite books of the year so far, I love the travel aspect of it and the way it is written. I devoured this one and I think it should go straight to the top of your read pile.

The next favourite up is a little bit of a guilty pleasure as most YA books are! The Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth was my constant companion for a few weeks as I worked my way through the three books at a substantial rate whilst still trying to slow down so they didn't end. In the same instance with Wild I just missed the boat on the second film and now have to wait for it to appear on DVD which is annoying as I just want to see what they have done with the adaptation. I really enjoyed these as I love a good dystopian novel and the twist in Book Three completely threw me which is rare as most story lines are pretty obvious now. Worth a read.

Music

Some summer tracks are starting to creep into my 800 song strong Spotify playlist which is a good thing as it seems like summer jut cant make it's mind up and arrive, so I like to pretend it's here!

Holding On ~ Disclosure ft Gregory Porter

Regret ~ Everything Everything

It Is You ~ Natalie Prass

Rumors ~ Pep & Rash

Raindrops ~ SNBRN ft Kerli

Home

I picked up a couple of really cute home bits this month from Wilko (apparently my favourite place on earth!) and as always the supermarkets have got some gorgeous home bits in.

I have been eyeing up this dish for so long I thought it might have been discontinued but luckily for me it was still there when I last went into Sainsburys so I grabbed it before it was gone! It reminds me of Portugal so much, another reason I love it! I am also eyeing up a jug in the same print....

Fish Platter - Sainsburys - £10

And because all I need in my life is another chopping board I picked this one up....

Chopping Board - Wilkinsons - £4

I couldn't resist this little egg house. I literally put my basket down with it in to walk out of the shop but I just couldn't do it. I have a problem....

Egg House - Wilkinsons - £5 

We have a George Living right by us which is a tad dangerous. I popped in the other day for a quick browse and found this little guy and at only £3 I couldn't really say no to him!

Milk Bottle - George Home - £3

Fashion

Something fantastic and terrible happened last week. I went to go and put one of my favourite skirts on to find that it doesn't fit anymore! Apparently losing weight means you drop a dress size, who knew! I then proceeded to lie on the floor in a pile of other clothes that do not fit and have a melt down because I have nothing to wear. Of course the only sensible thing to do was to buy some more clothes.....

I am loving this off the shoulder dress with its Moroccan style print and the fact that it is a size down and still a bit roomy helps too!

Tile Print Bardot Dress - George at Asda - £22

I have bought a few other bits but I want to share those with you in a different post so keep an eye out for my Glastonbury 'O.O.T.F' (Outfit Of The Festival) post which will be coming soon, just in case you are also going and need some inspiration!

Life

As you will have seen from a couple of my other posts things have been coming up roses at the moment and I could not be happier! Everything is going swimmingly and with Glastonbury only 23 days away it is only getting better!

C x

March Favourites

Can you believe that it is the end of March already? The spring sunshine is trying desperately to make an appearance and now that the clocks have gone back it feels that we are well on our way. Here's a list of my favourites this month!

Music

A couple of songs for you this month - I've realised that Youtube videos are not working from mobile versions of this blog so instead click the artist to link through to the video.  I have just discovered Honne after being told by a friend I should take a listen and Years & Years are just filling my ears with happy sounds.

Honne - Warm on a Cold Night

Years & Years - Real (Original Mix)

Fashion

Can you believe that I haven't really been shopping at all! As I've been losing weight recently I realised that there really wasn't too much point in buying new clothes when the goal is to drop a dress size or two. I did however pick up this maxi dress in the hope that Summer is just round the corner! I love a good maxi dress and I like that this one has a little sleeve even more.

Dorothy Perkins - £16

Home

It is my birthday in a week and my wonderful parents allowed me to open a present early when I popped down to visit them last weekend. They had got me this perfect Stand Mixer which goes beautifully in the kitchen and with its 'Walls Ice-cream' theme is so very retro.

Another early birthday present! This beautiful GIANT mixing bowl. It is just the kind of thing that I love and looks brilliant on display although I am definitely running out of counter space....

Food

Bit of a random one but I just have to put it in here! Leigh bought me a Caramel collection Easter egg this year because, you know, Cara-mel..... Anyway in this Easter egg there happened to contain the single most delicious chocolate bar I have ever tasted. Why on earth have I never tried this before?! Its all over for me. I don't like chocolate but I think I finally get why everyone else likes it if they feel the way about normal chocolate as I do about this:

 Life

This month I have been doing what I should always have been whilst living in London. Being a little bit cultural!

I went to see Die Zauberflote at the Royal Opera House, and attended a showing of Swan Lake the following week via the Live Cinema Screenings that the Royal Opera House organise. It was actually a refreshing way to view the Ballet, for one who cannot afford the stall seats this was such a good way to really see the show. This weekend I went to see 'My Night with Reg' which was fantastic and I laughed the whole way through. I also took my seat in a Choir performance of Handel's Messiah that my friend lent her voice too. It is things like this that I will look back on and think 'At least I made the most of living in this city!'

 Die Zauberflote

Swan Lake

 My Night with Reg

Choir performance

Yet again quite a small favourites post this month but I suppose it makes a difference as I didn't post one for January or February!

C x

July Favourites

Not too many favourites this month as I haven't really been here but what I have been loving you will find below!

Music

Only a couple of new songs on the favourites this month, I haven't found a new album I've loved but I'll leave you with these two:

First up - one of my songs of the Summer ~ Milky Chance with Stolen Dance

Secondly - Holdin On by Flume ~ I haven't stopped listening to this and I'm still not sick of it

Books

A very long time ago I started reading a book called 'A Discovery of Witches' and completly loved it. After a little wait Book 2 'Shadow of the Night' came out and finally 2 years later, just in time for my holiday 'The Book of Life' was avaliable. These books written by Debroah Harkness are rich with Vampires and Witches but without the real cheesy-ness of Twilight. There is also a healthy dose of history in there that appeals to my desire to read about the past. These books are brilliant in their detail and also provide you with a romance and passion. My rating: The second book is the best in the series.   

Food/Drink

I hate fizzy water, I just don't get it. However mixed with my new favourite thing ~ Elderflower cordial it's a little bit tasty, very bubbly and makes me happy. It's also a healthier alternative, if like me, you quite like the fizzy pop.

Home

The last thing I need in the house is more mugs but I saw these and they were just too sunshiney to say No to! They also go wonderfully in my Yellow Kitchen and were only a £1 each from Asda. They have sold out of the yellow ones but they do have black ones which you can find here.

Does a month go by without me loving something from Wilkinsons? The homeware section is really good and nice and cheap.

This month I picked up these cute little bowls for £4.50 - perfect for dips when my friends pop over and we demolish a whole bag of kettle chips.

Life

I want to take more time and garden. It would be nice to look out of the kitchen window and not see an overgrown mess. I also want to bring the garden indoors, and my bright idea for this is to grow Chives and Basil in little kilner jars. I just think it will look really cute, and after my last herb garden got knocked off the windowsill by the cat I am taking no chances this time and they are on a shelf. They haven't grown yet but I will keep you updates on the progress!

 Also as many of you will have realised by my many blog posts I have just been on holiday! It was a fantastic holiday, and so lovely to have a chance to relax.

Told you there weren't many ~ also there are no fashion favourites this month as I have already written about all my new clothes purchases for the month here and I'm trying to abstain from buying more! Ha!

C xxx

Passing the Exam

It is with much relief and delight that I can say I passed my 5th year!

It is such good timing as I am going on holiday on Monday and I don't have to worry about it I can just relax and enjoy myself, rather than worrying about the possibility that I didnt do well.

It will be such a relief to go home tonight and throw away all those horrible notes and quotes and try to forget all that I struggled to remember.

And this just proves that even if you forget the main character in Jane Eyre (which FYI is Jane Eyre) you can still pass! (NB: I was under a lot of stress. This is my excuse and I'm sticking with it!)

Now I just need to starting prepping for my FINAL course, and thankfully there will be no exam and just lots of story and poetry writing :)

Happy Face!

C xxx

June Favourites

The sun is shining and it's been a very happy month. Here are some things I've been loving in June.

Music

Clean Bandit's new album - New Eyes - is a brilliant summer album filled with lots of tracks that Clean Bandit fans will know plus some new fun tunes that evoke a sense of summer spirit.My favourite tracks are Telephone Banking and Come Over.

I am also loving this track from Budapest by George Ezra

Books

I have just started reading The Wrong Knickers by Bryony Gordon and it's as funny as the reviews say. It's current and about a girl who's my age who lives in London so what's not to love! I've been buying quite a few books recently for my summer holidays and am planning on doing a Summer Holiday book review soon.

Food/Drink

I have been loving ginger this month. Ginger Beer, Ginger Cider, Ginger with rum. It is most definitely my drink of the summer.

I had to work an event this month and there was the nicest man there selling his jams and chutneys. They are all homemade and very, very good. I got these two, but I might have to get in touch and try to order some of the BBQ marinade as well. You can have a look at the other's here

Home

I've not really been home shopping this month but I did pick up some silicon cupcake cases and I am never going back. I'm not even sure how I have gone this long without owning any!

Life

I went home for the first time in 6 months this month! I should see my parents more than I do really since they are only an hour away but it was lovely to spend the day at home in the garden having a BBQ and a chat. I am loving the fact that we will also get to see them on our holiday!

Fashion

You can find a list of all my new favourite fashion bits on my Pay Day Haul post!

I also popped into Primark and picked up a few items including a whole heap of amazing summer nails!

C xxx

Happy in the Sun

I have just been in such a good mood recently!

I am going to put this all down to the fact that I have finished Uni for the year and now I can start to enjoy summer without feeling like I should be revising or reading another nineteenth century novel.

I think my exam went ok....I probably could have done a bit better and I didn't come out of there feeling that confident, given that I forgot one of the critics I needed to remember, but trying to learn 17 of them is quite tricky, especially when you only leave 4 days to cram as much in as possible.  I figure that even if I have to retake I've still only got one more year left before it is all over and I have a degree! So looking forward to that!

There is just something about having a window open in the summer with the blue sky outside and a cool breeze floating through (with the sound of the Wallace and Gromit theme tune being played on the trumpet), this is about as close as I am going to get to summer with work every day but it is enough for now!

I am loving being able to plan my holiday which is in almost a month, read books that don't make me think too hard, catch up on all my tv shows, eat burgers, sip down some ginger cider and get a tan.



I've got a few blog posts that I want to cover and now Uni is over I can also spend more time writing, so I want to try and make several features. I have just introduced my Thoughtful Thursday and for a while now I have been trying to post a recipe on a Sunday, but I think I should be posting about 3 times a week so that's the aim!

Work is good, Friends are good, Home is good, Love is good, Life is bloody good!

I hope that you are just as happy :)

C xxx

May Favourites

It's May Favourites time! I've been a bit busy with revising but here are some of the things that I've been loving this month... 

Music
There's a couple of singles and an album on my favourites list this month - 

Firstly Sleepless by Cazette

Secondly Goddess by Banks

And the album of the month is Flume - Deluxe remix. This is an album from 2013 but I have only just got round to giving it a proper listen and it's really good, especially some of the remixes.

Books

No new books for me this month unless you count the ones I have been reading for my course. If you fancy reading any nineteenth century literature I recommend The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. This has been by far the best book on the course. It's a story of love, marriage, betrayal and mystery told through lots of different points of view. There's plot twists and old school romance and it's just a really fun, easy to read nineteenth century novel.

Food/Drink

I have a new found love of croissants which although regrettably aren't the most healthy thing to eat but they just taste so darn good. 

Last month I discovered croissants in a can and I blogged about them here, so if you haven't already try and make some!

Home

After saying for ages that I needed cake tins I have finally got round to getting some and I was also gifted three, so now I can make as many cakes as I want and find a home for them all. 

The rose tins I found on Amazon for £5.99 and the set of three are £6.50 from Wilkinsons.

I was given some lovely ceramic mixing bowls as a present and they just look so pretty in my kitchen. I am loving open shelving at the moment and just wish I could redo my kitchen! Look at their beautiful pastel colour. I managed to hunt down their location so if you want to get these bowls you need to head on over to Sainsburys.

 Fashion

A couple of fashion pieces for you! I wish I had more money this month because there are some lovely summer pieces out at the moment that I am dying to get for my holiday but here are some I have purchased already.

Starting with this lovely swimsuit! I am just in love with floral so this is perfect!

Swimsuit - Next - £28

I love this midi skirt, as mentioned I am loving floral  and the best thing about this skirt - it has pockets!

Skirt - Dorothy Perkins - £22

Beauty

I recently went make up shopping for the first time ever with a good friend and a separate blog post will be coming about all of the things I bought but I thought I should mention my favourite item out of the whole trip which has to be my eyebrow mascara. Yes, you heard me right - eyebrow mascara. It helps keeps the eyebrows neat and darkens them slightly. It is also a hell of a lot easier than sitting there trying to fill in the brow line with a pencil or eyeshadow. This one is from Maybelline in the colour Dark Brown. Honestly this has been a revelation!

I feel like my favourites are a bit sparse this month but I will be on my 'summer holiday' and on a little break from Uni in June so I will have time to find and do more things that I'm sure I will love. Anyway I hope you enjoyed reading this post, let me know what you love this month! 

xxx